It wasn’t a burglar who stole Phil’s purse. He was just a little fellow; in fact he had just had his fifth birthday. His purse was unusually full after his presents from aunts and uncles, Grandma too. He was feeling quite rich as he went with his mother to see the doctor, because he had a sore throat which would not go away.
Somehow Phil forgot his purse and left it behind at the doctor’s office. It was not until he got home that he discovered it was missing. Mother usually looked after it, but today she thought Phil would like to keep it himself. She phoned the police station and described the purse, but it had not been turned in to them. Mother had been to so many places that day that she didn’t know where to start to look.
Back at the doctor’s office the nurse found a purse and carefully put it away, sure that someone would come back to claim it. She could see that it had quite a lot of money in it, and she was sure the owner would soon come. After several days it was still there, and looking inside she could make out a name. Looking up the record she found Phil’s address. She asked the district nurse, and she said she would take it with her when she had to go that way.
Phil himself opened the door when the bell rang. When he saw his purse, his face lit up, and he took it from the lady quickly just remembering to say “thank you.” He rushed upstairs to his mother waving his purse with his face radiant. He joyfully counted his pennies—they were all there!
Then he suddenly thought of the nurse at the doctor’s office who had sent it back to him, and he took out his pencil to write a little note to her. He was only five and he very carefully wrote, “Fank you for my purss back. Love from Phil.”
“Do you think she’d like some chocolate peanuts, like I do?” he asked his mother. They both agreed she probably would. So mother brought his thank you letter and present to the doctor’s office, and the nurse was so pleased to hear from Phil—it made her very happy, and she hummed a tune as she went on with her work.
Have you ever stopped to think how much you have to thank God for?—your home, your father and mother, your family and friends, food and clothes? But above all for His wonderful love in giving Jesus His own dear Son, to die for you upon the cross, to pay the debt of your sins, and to bring you back to Himself.
When the Lord Jesus was here on earth, He cured ten men who were lepers. One of them—and only one—came back to thank Him. How much the Lord appreciated that, and he asked where all the others were. Are you, dear reader, like that one, and have you brought your grateful thanks to Him for saving you?
ML-10/08/1978